Ambassador Gaa Welcomes Virginia House Delegates Resolution Designating June 12th as Philippine Independence Day
The close ties between
Filipinos and Americans received another major boost on January 15th
2008, when the Virginia House of Delegates issued House Joint Resolution
no. 220 designating June 12th 2008, and each succeeding year, as
Philippine Independence Day in Virginia, Ambassador Gaa said today.
According to Resolution no. 220, Philippine Independence Day is a
celebration of the Filipino-American community in the United States and
its main purpose is to create awareness of the Philippine culture, raise
funds for charity projects in the United States, as well as in the
Philippines, and to provide an opportunity for Filipino-Americans to
rekindle and share their rich culture and heritage with their fellow
American citizens.
Commenting on this development, Philippine Ambassador to the United
States Willy C. Gaa said, “I am sure the Filipino American community
deeply appreciates the support and acknowledgement of the State of
Virginia in bestowing this special recognition on the special ties
shared by the Filipino and American peoples and in honoring the
important and constructive contributions to society made by the Filipino
American community.”
He also expressed his appreciation to the State’s House of Delegates, in
particular the co-patrons of House Joint Res. 220, Mr. Joseph F.
Bouchard, Virginia’s 83rd District Delegate and Robert W. Mathieson,
Virginia’s 21st District Delegate, for their support for the
Filipino-American community in Virginia and for this recognition
accorded towards the Filipino American community in Virginia by
acknowledging the community’s invaluable contribution to the prosperity
and advancement of the community at large in the State of Virginia. END.